Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins's Reading List

"Andrea: First, I’d like to talk about Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer , Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carol Boston Weatherford. This is a remarkable story of hope, determination and strength. Being an illustrator, the visuals always speak to me, and Ekua Holmes, is a phenomenal illustrator. I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time. Fannie Lou Hamer’s story is very, very interesting – and the way that the illustrator was able to capture this visually – the colour, the layout on the page, the overall compositions are beautiful. Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights. A woman who overcame prejudice and abuse and yet turned that experience into a message of hope. We can all learn from that."

"Yes, and this book celebrates and perfectly captures how radical she was for her time – for any time really. It also emphasises the fun and energy of her life. Josephine Baker was strong-willed – an artist who was truly ground breaking. There is a retro quality to this book which I really appreciate. Even though his style is more reminiscent of the 1950s and Josephine Baker was around in the 1920s it works, because Christian Robinson is a phenomenal artist with a great sense of colour. I’m such a big fan of Robinson. So many of the books that he’s illustrated have won awards. His illustrations have a simplicity to them and this allows him to quickly tell the story."

"Andrea: I think, this book is phenomenal. It’s a book that I wish I had it when I was a little girl. I think it’s great for young people to have these books. I was really happy to see that there was a book specifically for women in black history. We’ve talked about the need for more stories of people of colour, alongside this we also need to empower young girls and young women. Show them different stories of women who have persevered against the odds and who have been determined throughout history. Looking at the illustrations – they are so lovely and emblematic of her style. I enjoy how she celebrates each figure by placing them in their environment of expertise, while allowing the figure to stand out in bold colour against a softer background. “Our ancestors’ stories are often absent or diminished in cultural conversation ” Jamia: These concise, clear and compelling biographies capture our imaginations and provide important information with accessible language. My attention was held by both the powerful words and the colourful illustrations and I’ve seen children in my life light up while reading these stories. I was also thrilled to see a book about black history that illuminated black women’s specific role in driving change – since our ancestors’ stories are often absent or diminished in cultural conversation."

"Jamia: I have loved ballet ever since I took my first class when I was four years old. Through ballet, I learned how to be strong, powerful, disciplined and graceful. I gravitated towards this book and this story because Misty Copeland (featured in Young, Gifted and Black ) is one of my heroes. I will never forget being told by a ballet teacher that I should adjust my movements to avoid “bulking up with muscle and looking like Flo Jo” while white girls in my class were praised for their lithe builds. I was already self-conscious for hitting puberty early, but it was worse to be singled out for having a different body type than many of my classmates at that point in my life. “This book inspires readers to imagine themselves transforming into and reclaiming the shining, phoenix-like firebird they were always meant to be” I wish I had this book when I was questioning whether I could fit in, feeling awkward for not being able to find so-called ‘nude’ shoes, leotards, and tights to match my complexion, or wondering if I should get a new hobby because I couldn’t find many role models who looked like me. What I love about Firebird is that it presents a relatable story about how to work hard and focus on your goal in spaces where your value and presence may not be readily embraced or understood. It’s also refreshing because it addresses the ways we are conditioned to doubt ourselves without shame or victim-blaming. Instead, it inspires readers to imagine themselves transforming into, and reclaiming the shining, phoenix-like firebird they were always meant to be."

"Jamia: I still read Life Doesn’t Frighten Me often. I thought of this book while we were working on Basquiat and Angelou’s profiles for Young, Gifted and Black because both of them influenced me as a creative person — even though I never met them. When I was a child, my mom always described me as an old soul who was “born 35.” I always wanted to be told the truth, to sit at the adult table, and to watch CNN with the grown-ups. To hear the real story and not the watered down one. I loved being a kid, but I wanted to get to know the meaning of wisdom and I had a sense early on that it wouldn’t always look pretty or feel like fun. “The message I took from it when I was a kid was that I should trust my instincts, acknowledge my fears, look them in the eye, and keep running towards the light anyway” Of the book, Maya Angelou said it was “for all children who whistle in the dark and who refuse to admit that they’re frightened out of their wits.” When I first read Life Doesn’t Frighten Me as a pre-teen , I was drawn to the quirky merging of art and poetry from two great black artists with a strong point of view and voice. Both were fearless about owning their distinct voices and shining a light on the shadows we grapple with in the world and within ourselves. The message I took from it when I was a kid was that I should trust my instincts, acknowledge my fears, look them in the eye, and keep running towards the light anyway – just like Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Jamia: They are for all children – for people who may not be black but have black people in their lives. We created our book to help all children learn how these great luminaries have contributed to history. Children don’t necessarily learn about these individuals at school, nor do they see their life stories in films or on TV – their stories have too often been pushed to the margins. I fully believe in the transformative power of books to inspire people to speak up against bullies whether they are on the playground or in the White House. Our stories matter and sharing our stories can inspire others to make change in the world. All too often, we receive cultural, social, and political messages that tell us that our value is based on our ability or inability to fit into a narrow ideal rather than our ability to lead, teach, transform and ignite social change. Because past generations were bold enough and brave enough to express themselves – in spite of grave obstacles – I’m able to show up with more resilience because they provided the roadmap. Sign up here for our newsletter featuring the best children’s and young adult books, as recommended by authors, teachers, librarians and, of course, kids. When I think of that history and how my ancestors before me paved the way for my story, I am reminded to love and cherish my entire self and my voice and to protect and defend it with sacred ferocity. I want this for our children. Andrea: I believe that reading or hearing stories about others who shine despite setbacks or fears is inspiring and encouraging. Most importantly I believe it is valuable to see that there are many versions of success, many different paths to get there and that each journey is unique and special. My hope is that young people will be inspired to overcome obstacles that may come as they pursue their dreams and that by seeing so many options for dreams that they remember they can define for themselves who they choose to be. This interview was published on February 7th, 2018"